Introduction
To compete successfully in today's challenging business
climate, organizations must enable more efficient
ways for knowledge workers to communicate and collaborate.
E-mail is currently the most widely used collaborative
technology. More businesses use Exchange Server
for e-mail-based collaboration than any other product.
Exchange Server 2003 enables knowledge workers to
gain access to critical business communications
almost whenever and wherever they need to and is
designed to deliver greater security, availability,
and reliability.Exchange Server 2003 is designed
to interoperate with multiple clients.
Outlook Compatibility
Outlook 2003, Outlook 2002, and Outlook 2000 can
connect to Exchange Server 20031. Outlook 2003 and
Exchange Server 2003 are designed to perform over
slow, latent, or poor network connections. Examples
are dial-up lines and wireless data links such as
1xRTT and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). New
Outlook 2003 features include:
- Exchange Server Cached Mode.
- VPN-less connections that use the new RPC
over HTTPS capability in Outlook 2003.
Remote Access
Outlook Web Access in Exchange Server 2003 has been
improved for easier use, speed, and greater security.
The popularity of Outlook Web Access is in part
because the product is easy to support and use and
no installation is necessary. Any browser-based
computer can access Exchange Server with greater
security, and, with the new UI, most users have
to look twice to see if they are using Outlook 2003
or Outlook Web Access. The features include:
- Spelling checker
- Task list support
- HTML and attachment blocking (prevents spam
and potential beacon-finding code)
- Automatic logoff (Forgot to logoff? Don't
worry—the inactivity time-out automatically
logs off and closes out your session.)
You also get support for S/MIME in Outlook Web
Access so that you can digitally sign and encrypt
your e-mail messages.
Exchange Server ActiveSync
Microsoft Windows Mobile–based devices, such as
the Pocket PC, come with the Microsoft ActiveSync
client and Pocket Outlook built in, which enables
you to sync your e-mail messages, calendar, and
contacts lists directly with Exchange Server 2003.
Exchange Server administrators can enable this from
the same screen used to manage Exchange Server e-mail
accounts.
Outlook Mobile Access
Similar to Outlook Web Access for desktop browsers,
Outlook Mobile Access is designed for security-enhanced
access from mobile device browsers. With Exchange
Server 2003, users can gain access to their mailboxes
from mobile devices with HTML, XHTML (WAP 2.x),
and CHTML-based microbrowsers.
Pervasive Productivity Scenarios
The flexible options for information access and
the new ways to stay connected enable knowledge
workers to be more productive and in control when
and how they communicate.
- Mobile workers, such as sales and
service staff using portable computers and running
Outlook 2003 over a wireless network, are free
to roam and communicate. No longer tethered
to a cable, they can check their e-mail messages,
look up their contacts and schedules, and continue
to communicate with their customers, partners,
and coworkers wherever and whenever they choose—in
the car, at their customer's location, or even
at the airport. Outlook 2003 is designed to
work over slow and poor network connections:
Mobile workers are shielded from network issues
and can continue working with their Exchange
Server information while Exchange Server and
Outlook use the available network resources.
- Remote workers can work at home,
a remote office, a customer site, an 802.11
hot spot such as their local Internet café,
and can start Outlook or use Outlook Web Access
from any Internet-connected computer to gain
security-enhanced access to Exchange Server.
Outlook Web Access adds more freedom by enabling
them to stay in touch through Exchange Server
without their own portable computer. Outlook
Web Access extends the latest features in Exchange
Server 2003 to any browser-based computer, including
non-Microsoft operating systems. And because
Outlook Web Access doesn't need installation,
your IT departments can reduce support costs.
- Traveling executives can run Outlook
2003 from their hotel or between flight connections
over a dial-up line and synchronize their e-mail
messages. With the latest synchronized Exchange
Server data, they can continue working offline
until their next opportunity to dial in and
reconnect. Outlook 2003 and Exchange Server
2003 help them to be productive online and offline.
Don't want to carry a portable computer? Pocket
PC, Pocket PC Phone Edition, and Windows Mobile–based
Smartphones enable you to synchronize your wireless
device directly to Exchange Server. E-mail messages,
contacts, schedules, and attachments are at your
fingertips.
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